Tag Archives: Cross Rower

Uncategorized

Row diary: Fixing misconceptions

Leave a comment

As a communications person, I’m finding that even the clearest of messages can get distorted or misunderstood.

When I decided to undertake my row, I created a website with all the relevant information, something I thought would help people understand what the challenge was about.

I did this because if someone were to donate to my causes, they have a right to know what I was doing and what the charities do.

The message did not always get through in the way it was intended, so here are some clarifications that may help:

  • On the row across the Atlantic, we  will have no other boat or any other form of support whatsoever. Yes, it’s a small boat in a big ocean. It’s a tough challenge, which is probably why very few people have ever done it. The boat is equipped with all the necessary equipment to get us to the other side safely, but it’ll be hard
  • Speaking of which, in the history of mankind, a whisper over 1,100 people have rowed across an ocean
  • It’s not an exclusive male domain. Many women row across oceans, too. In our team, we are very proud to have a female member (or, as we know her, a team member)
  • I’m not asking anyone to row. All I’m asking is for people to donate to my three chosen organizations. We had a charming old lady explaining to us why she and her husband could not help as they were too old to row with us. “He’s got a bad back, you know,” she told us. “I’m not sure we can make it.” Very sweet, but not necessary, my dear. We’ll do the rowing
  • Speaking of donations, all the money (literally all of it) go to the Hospice (Malta), Terre des hommes, and Krebsliga. Not only, you can choose the organization you want to help (I do not decide myself). There are links on my website that direct you to accounts belonging to the organizations. To clarify again, the money NEVER comes to me at any level
  • If/When you donate, you will not (in any way) be paying for my ‘holiday’ on a boat. Seriously. My idea of a holiday is somewhat different
  • You may think I’m begging for money, that’s your prerogative. And if that convinces you to donate, fine
  • If you don’t trust me (also your prerogative), I’d just ask that you go directly to one of these three organizations to donate. They need the money to help people. Be it cancer patients or Syrian refugee children, it’s just nice to do something altruistically
  • I’m paying all my expenses out of my own pocket. All of them. It’s not cheap, but we can manage
  • I’m not asking you to like or support what I’m doing – it’s fine. It’s also fine if you don’t let me know of why what I’m doing is silly, a way to attract attention, a mid-life crisis gone very wrong, or (my favorite) an ego trip
  • Feel free to call me crazy. You’re probably right on some level

I don’t have a team of people helping me. It’s just my wife and me. We appreciate the support we are receiving from a number of people, and want to say thanks. Also, to those who have already donated, and even bigger thanks. Let’s hope more follow your example.

To find out more about Steve’s challenge, visit his website: www.crossrower.ch or de.crossrower.ch (German)

Uncategorized

Cross Rower – where does the name come from?

Leave a comment

It took me some time before I came up with the name Cross Rower for my Atlantic Ocean row, and in reality the reasons are very simple.

Both my native and adoptive countries (Malta and Switzerland) have a cross as their symbol. The Maltese eight-pointed cross is a world-famous symbol that is recognizable everywhere. I always had a certain liking for this cross, to be honest, so am very happy to be associated with it.

The Swiss flag, with a white cross on a red background, is also universally known. I also have a strong connection with this country and therefore I felt that I had to have something related to the country in the name I use for the crossing.

Apart from that, I’ll be rowing across the Atlantic Ocean – the connection can’t be more obvious than that.

I was asked about whether the cross is also a religious symbol, and the answer is no. Personally, I live by Christian values – generosity, respect, love, peace, charity – because I believe it’s the right thing to do not because there is any post-death reward (I don’t believe in heaven nor hell, nor any higher being). Just to clarify, I have no issue with people who have faith – it’s just that I don’t.

Finally, the Cross Rower emblem was created using the blade of an oar as a background. The blade is made to resemble a face with the eyes taking the form of a Rannoch 45 boat – the same which I’ll be on during my crossing.

For more information on the row, visit www.crossrower.ch

Uncategorized

Marching on – one year to go

Leave a comment

March is a great month for many reasons – summer time starts, my sister celebrates her birthday, the F1 season kicks off in earnest, and everyone seems happier. It’s also exactly a year until Cross Rower takes to the seas.

That’s right – my Atlantic challenge is officially a year away. I have 365 days (give or take a day or two) to get ready to row 6,000km across the Atlantic with my five companions.

My quest started around 30 years ago with my first thoughts to row around Malta, my home country. Life intervened and nothing came of it. Now, I’m in the final 12 months of preparation to row the Atlantic Ocean.

I started training for the row in January 2018, two months after I decided to undertake this epic trip. Staring with 30 minutes of rowing every two or three days, I’m now up to a minimum of two hours training every day.

Now that I can say the row will happen ‘in less than a year’, it’s beginning to feel a bit scary. At the same time, I can’t wait to go. I can best compare it to bungee jumping – absolutely terrifying until you leap.

I’m doing the row as a personal challenge for myself, but I’m also collecting funds for three important charities. You can find out more here.

Today is also the day when Ralph Tuijn, who will skipper my trip, leaves on his 10th ocean crossing. I wish him all the very best.

Want to know more? Visit my website – www.crossrower.ch

Uncategorized

It’ll be ‘alright’

2 Comments

It’s been two years since my brother Michael passed away.

Michael (Cuti) spent the last years of his life making sure everything was prepared for his death, fighting hard, giving people hope when there was none, and keeping his spirits high.

It was a struggle, but every time I visited Malta, I was taken aback at how he kept on going despite what he was going through.

In this same spirit, I will be taking on a challenge of my own – I’ll be rowing the Atlantic ocean in exactly a year to raise money for three charities: Hospice (Malta), The Swiss Cancer League, and Terre des hommes.

If he were here, everything would be completely organized, his group of amazing friends would have been roped in to do various tasks, and he would inevitably have lists of all things that have been done, are being done, and others that have to be done in an organized folder that would put the most organized body to shame. It was annoyingly organized.

For me, it’s a bit different – all the above hasn’t been done, my lists are short and incomplete, and my organization is somewhat chaotic.

I guess my brother was the one who got the brain – I obviously got the dashing looks…

OK, now that you have stopped laughing, we need to get serious.

I need your help. No, you don’t need to come and row with me. What I ask is that you visit my website – www.crossrower.ch – and start donating to the three organizations I’m collecting money for on my brother’s behalf.

If you do that, it’ll be ‘alright’.

Another thing – once you’ve done that, share the link and ask your friends and family, colleagues and neighbours, and anyone else you may know to do the same. If you do only one of these two, it’s also cool.

I can’t stress enough that charities get 100% of the money you donate, not 50% or 60% – a full 100%. You will not pay for me to go ‘on holiday’ across the Atlantic (I’m paying that myself).

Who am I rowing for?

The Hospice (Malta) are a bunch of great people who provide palliative care. They help people who have friends or relatives who suffer from cancer and other end-of-life illnesses, such as respiratory, renal, liver and cardiac, and make sure the patient is as comfortable as possible. They also help families get through what is a very difficult time. Seeing them in action was an inspiration for me to do something to help others.

The Swiss Cancer League has centres around Switzerland, my adoptive home, and they provide information, advice and moral support to cancer sufferers and their families. It’s amazing what they do, and both patients and their families benefit immensly from their service, even if it’s just a friendly voice at the other end of a phone call.

Terre des hommes is a Swiss NGO dedicated to helping and protecting children in need worldwide. I’d like to do something to help kids who need help. Specifically, the money raised will help kids in Syrian children displaced by the war and living in the neighbouring countries Lebanon and Jordan. A tiny contribution from many will help these kids have a childhood – like most of us in the west have had. Now, more than ever, is a good time to donate as in the past three months alone, more than half a million kids were displaced because of the violence in Syria.

My goal is to collect €10,000 for each – it may be ambitious, but so is rowing across an ocean. I’ll take care of the rowing – I hope that you help me take care of the donations (don’t make me get down on my knees…).